Closure and receptacle



Oct. 19, 1937. E. E. HOGG ET AL 2,096,428

CLOSURE AND RECEPTACLE Filed March 23, 1935 Patented Oct. 19, 1937UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CLOSURE AND RECEPTACLE tion ofPennsylvania Application March 23, 1935, Serial No. 12,642

4 Claims.

This invention relates to an external closure for receptacles and itrelates particularly to a definite relationship between the closure andthe neck finish of the receptacle.

A great amount of attention has been devoted in the past, and is stillbeing devoted, to the problem of making seals or closures forreceptacles of various sizes, shapes and materials of a tamperproofnature, i. e., that cannot be removed without either visible alterationor destruction of the closure. It is an object of our invention toprovide this desired tamperproof characteristic by means of combinationsof receptacle finish and closures, so that an attempt to remove aclosure will leave visible alterations and also so that removal willdestroy the closure. It is an additional object of our invention tocreate this desirable characteristic in a combination utilizing wellknown forms of closures that hitherto have lacked this quality. Theimportance of this accomplishment is unquestionable in the light ofcontemporaneous marketing tendencies. The period of retailing from bulkis now one that belongs largely to the past. In the constant search forattractive containers, bottles have, of course, received attention, butit has been a drawback in the advancement of some uses of them thatseals of tamperproof character have added disproportionately to the costof packaging. It is a further purpose of the present invention toovercome this objection and to make available a tamperproof combinationat a cost no greater than that of ordinary known closures.

The accomplishment of these objects gives the invention particularadvantage in the marketing of liquids, in Which line of commerce therehas been in the past great chance for dilution and alteration ofcontents. In this field the invention permits the retention of the salesadvantage found in the display ofiere'd by glass receptacles and at thesame time provides the consumer with an assurance that the producerstrue product is being purchased. A striking example of a product wherethis advantage is of primary importance is found in the retail marketingof lubricating oils.

Additional objects and advantages of our invention will appear in thedetailed description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, disclosing the invention witha closure employing a tear-off tab included in the combination;

Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly. in section, disclosing the inventionwith a shallow beaded closure shell included in the combination;

Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, disclosingthe invention withan ordinary crimped skirt closure included in the combination; and

Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly in section, disclosing the invention witha crimped skirt closure and over-all liner included in the combination.5

In Figs. 1 through 4, by which our invention is illustrated, like partsbear the same reference numbers. A neck finish that is for practicalpurposes common to all of the figures includes a bottle neck I having anannular bead 2 immediately adjoining the mouth of the bottle. The underside of the bead 2 inclines inwardly and downwardly to a narrow annularneck portion which forms the base of the groove 3. The groove 3 isdefined on its lower side by the upper surface 15 of a second annularbead or ledge 4. This surface of bead 4 preferably extendsperpendicularly to the base of the groove 3, although this surface maybe inclined slightly upwardly from the base to the periphery thereof.Furthermore, the bead 4 extends a substantial distance beyond theperiphery of bead 2 in order to completely accommodate the skirts ofvarious known types of closures.

Referring now to Fig. 1, there is shown an ordinary form of closureemploying a tear-off tab 5 which preferably has weakened portions on thetop surface and in the skirt to facilitate tearing and removal of theclosure shell.- A shallow skirt 6 is turned under the head 2 by anysuitable method, as by rolling, and is compressed into the narrow groove3. This means of retaining the closure guarantees a suitable sealbetween the compressible insert 1 and the top sealing surface of thebottle immediately adjacent to the mouth. The same deformation of theskirt forces the bottom edge thereof against the top surface of theledge 4, with the result that an attempt to effectuate removal oftheclosure from the bottom is made extremely difficult, since the ledge40 4 does not readily accommodate a tool capable of loosening the skirt.In case an attempt is made to remove the closure in this fashion thethin skirt will be permanently mutilated, and should the closure be soremoved it will be so torn and disfigured that it will not bereplaceable.

In Fig. 2 the neck finish described above is shown with a simple closurecomprising a onepiece shell having a shallow skirt 6 and compressiblesealing insert l.v The bead 2 in this modification presents acylindrical portion from the horizontal plane of the mouth to that ofthe groove 3 with which the skirt 6 is held in close contact by thelower skirt portion which is turned under the bead 2 and into the groove3. In this modification the closure has no means integral therewith forremoval from the bottle neck. The means and method for effecting removalwill be discussed below, since it is common to Fig. 2 and the followingFigs. 3 and 4.

In Fig. 3 a form of closure of known type, commonly called a crown, isshown as a. part of our combination. In this type of closure the thinshallow skirt 6 has a fluted or crimped bottom edge and the corrugationsthereof, when forced under the retaining bead, as shown in Fig. 3, forma perfect seal between the compressible sealing insert 1 and the topsealing surface of the bottle. Ordinarily a. closure of this type isremoved by force exerted against the crimped bottom edge by well knownforms of bottle openers for which the top surface of the closure servesas a fulcrum. According to our invention the bead or ledge 4 is soproportioned and so located that the crimped edge of the closure is heldagainst the bead and as a result a tool cannot be inserted between thebead and closure to remove the latter.

In Fig. 4 there is shown a closure having a shell of the same type asshown in Fig. 3. This embodiment, however, differs from Fig. 3 in thatit discloses an over-all liner or sealing insert 1 that separates theskirt 6 of the closure shell from the bead 2 and groove 3 of the neckfinish. This interpositioning of the insert results in a thickness ofinsert and shell approximating the width of the bead or ledge 4. As isshown in Fig. 4, the crimped bottom edge and the insert of the closureare forced into close contact with the ledge 4. In this modification ofthe invention it is apparent that the relationship of ledge and closuremakes the removal of the closure by insertion of a tool even morediificult than in the previous forms. Furthermore, as in the previousforms, because of the manner in which the lower skirt portion is heldbetween the closely placed beads, any attempt to remove the closure willbe readily discernible, and should the closure be removed it will not bereuseable.

The advantages of our invention must nowreadily appear and theopportuneness of our contribution to the closure art is striking in thatit satisfies the strong present demand for inexpensive closures to beapplied to reuseable containers. With the exception of theformillustrated in Fig. 1, it is necessary to remove and thereby destroythe closure by an auxiliary means and, furthermore, it is apparent fromthe very essence of our invention, the relationship of skirt and head,that removal must be accomplished from the top surface of the closure.The structure of the tool used for this purpose forms no part of thisinvention, since it is clear that a tool sharp enough to puncture theclosure and of satisfactory shape and strength to permit the closure' tobe pried off will be satisfactory. This use of an opener before thecustomer to not only break the producers seal upon the receptacle butalso to destroy the closure has a forceful sales advantage that cannotbe overlooked.

It is, of course, appreciated that our invention is in no way limited tothe specific embodiments by which we have herein illustrated it.Therefore, with the intent to include all forms coming within the spiritand true scope of our invention, we claim:

1; A tamper-proof combination of bottle flnish and closure comprising abottle neck having an annular peripheral bead adjoining the mouth, anannular ledge beneath the bead, a narrow annularv groove separating saidbead and ledge, and an external closure, said closure having adeformable skirt portion disposed under said bead and extending intosaid groove with the bottom thereof forced tightly against said ledge,said ledge extending beyond the skirt portion in contact therewith toprevent bottom removal of said closures.

2. A tamper-proof combination of bottle finish and closure comprising abottle neck having an annular peripheral bead adjoining the mouth, anannular ledge beneath the bead, a narrow annular groove separating saidhead and ledge, and an external closure, said closure having a shallowdeformable skirt continuously disposed under said bead and extendinginto said groove with the bottom thereof forced tightly against saidledge,-

said ledge extending beyond the skirt portion in contact therewith toprevent bottom removal of said closure.

3. A tamper-proof combination of bottle finish and closure comprising abottle neck having an annular peripheral bead adjoining the mouth, anannular ledge beneath the bead, a narrow annular groove separating saidbead and ledge, and an external closure having a skirt portion bearingcrimped detents, said skirt portion having the detents disposed undersaid bead with the skirt edge forced tightly against said ledge, saidledge extending beyond the skirt edge in contact therewith to preventbottom removal of said closure.

4. In a sealed container having a mouth bead and an external metalclosure retained by a skirt portion constricted below said bead, acontinuous annular ledge extending outwardly from the container andhaving the bottom of said constricted skirt portion bearing tightlyagainst the upper surface thereof to produce a tamperproof container.

EMERSON E. HOGG. ELI FRANK ANDERSEN.

